Impacts of Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) Inhibition on Aged Human Muscle (Rapamune)

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM · Jun 7, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, called the Rapamune study, is investigating how a drug called Rapamune, which blocks a specific pathway in the body known as mTOR, affects muscle health in older men. As we age, we naturally lose muscle mass and strength, which can make it harder to stay active and independent. The researchers believe that by using Rapamune, they might be able to slow down or reduce the negative effects of aging on muscle size and function, especially when combined with resistance exercise training.

To participate in this study, you need to be a healthy man over 50 years old who is willing to commit to a resistance exercise program. Certain health conditions, like severe heart or lung diseases, and a very high or low body weight, may disqualify you. If eligible, you can expect to take the drug and engage in exercise training while helping scientists learn more about how to improve muscle health in aging individuals. This research could potentially lead to new treatments for age-related muscle loss in the future.

Gender

MALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study
• • Participant is physically able to complete the resistance exercise training programme
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • • A BMI \<18 or \>35 kg/m2
• • Active cardiovascular, cerebrovascular or respiratory disease: e.g. uncontrolled hypertension (BP \> 160/100), angina, heart failure (class III/IV), arrhythmia, right to left cardiac shunt, recent cardiac event, COPD, pulmonary hypertension or recent stroke
• • Any metabolic disease
• • Clotting dysfunction
• • A history of, or current neurological or musculoskeletal conditions (e.g. epilepsy)
• • Having taken part in a research study in the last 3 months involving invasive procedures or an inconvenience allowance (this must remain for ALL UoN FMHS UREC approved studies)
• • Contraindications to MRI scanning including claustrophobia, pacemaker, metal implants etc. which will be assessed through an MRI safety screening questionnaire.
• • Contraindications to the use of Rapamycin e.g. those due scheduled vaccinations (as rapamycin can reduce the efficacy of vaccines).